The Most Common Issues with Airport Ground Operations and How to Fix Them
Several years ago, airport heads of ground operations were brought
together from different parts of the world to discuss the most common
problems they face with their ground operations. Their answers had some
overlap but were surprisingly different. One of the chief takeaways,
however, was that the issues they cited that involved ground crew
virtually always involved the crew not having sufficient training.
That’s not an uncommon or unexpected finding. Even when identifying the problems they encountered that didn’t specifically name a lack of training, the root of that issue could pretty reliably be attributed to it. Poorly maintained, old and obsolete, and otherwise inadequate ground support equipment (GSE) is likely the second most commonly mentioned. Thankfully, both of these issues can be resolved for safer, more efficient, more financially stable ground operations and a happier ground support crew.
Common Ground Operation Issues
If there is one specific issue that the heads of ground operations mentioned as a contributor to slowdowns, delays, and gummed-up airside operation, it was ground crew vehicle operation. For example, operators of aircraft tugs and baggage carts or tractors being unfamiliar with or disregarding airport regulations when driving on the ramp or apron.
Drivers unfamiliar with their vehicles’ operational limits may do things such as speeding or driving outside of the boundaries designating its safe operation. Many ground operation managers have seen too much GSE and other airport equipment damaged from actions like these. Not only is driving outside of the marked roadways or other routes dangerous on airport property, doing so can put GSE at far higher risk of foreign object damage.
The other most commonly-cited issue was the parking of GSE in inappropriate places. Inappropriate parking can interfere with other ground crew operations, leading to delays, loading and unloading problems, maintenance and flight preparation issues, and a lack or shortage of the necessary resources at the stands and gates. It can also be dangerous, resulting in collisions if another operator isn’t expecting to encounter a vehicle parked around a corner where parking is prohibited. Not to mention one may accidentally block the access of emergency vehicles.
Fixing Those Issues
As mentioned, more often than not these problems aren’t the result of the vehicle operators just not caring as they are a lack of training. Obvious as it is, the solution to that is pretty simple: sufficient training.
And the lack of training certainly isn’t just the fault of a supervisor not feeling like training someone. Ground crew work can be among the most stressful, fast-paced, and demanding professions. Faced with this fast pace, some crew supervisors may surmise that if someone can drive a car, they can drive a baggage cart, and if they can drive a baggage cart, they can drive an aircraft pushback. So saving some time without going into tedious specifics may seem reasonable given the number of tasks at hand.
Of course, that’s simply not the case. The GSE vehicles and equipment, even those sharing basically similar operation-design features, are all designed to do very specific things. They have specific attributes and engine sizes and speed capabilities and unique operational behavior based on their function. Not only is driving a traditional car or truck not sufficient to qualify someone to operate GSE, being fully trained up on one piece of GSE doesn’t mean immediate qualification to operate others.
Every member of the ground crew needs to be fully trained and fully educated on the use of every piece of GSE they’re going to be using. And all ground crew should be given comprehensive training on airport safety, the importance of staying within the marked routes, where parking is allowed and not, and anything else that will contribute to a safer and more efficient airside working environment.
The AERO Specialties SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System is designed to mitigate risk factors during aircraft towing by providing operators with a sophisticated linear force monitoring system, reducing the risk of damage to equipment and aircraft. As a part of AERO Specialties’ line of Aviation Safety Equipment, the SiPsHitch™ can prevent costly damage to aircraft, tugs, and other equipment.
About AERO Specialties
Since their founding, AERO Specialties has been committed to providing the highest-quality ground support equipment and everything else a functioning airport needs to run smoothly. As part of their dedication to the best products and the best customer service, AERO Specialties ensures that all of their sales and support staff develop an in-depth, detailed understanding of ground crew operation and equipment. You can depend on them to find a dependable aircraft tug to suit your needs and everything else you’ll require for successful airport operations.
Visit AERO Specialties for the GSE you need at Aerospecialties.com
That’s not an uncommon or unexpected finding. Even when identifying the problems they encountered that didn’t specifically name a lack of training, the root of that issue could pretty reliably be attributed to it. Poorly maintained, old and obsolete, and otherwise inadequate ground support equipment (GSE) is likely the second most commonly mentioned. Thankfully, both of these issues can be resolved for safer, more efficient, more financially stable ground operations and a happier ground support crew.
Common Ground Operation Issues
If there is one specific issue that the heads of ground operations mentioned as a contributor to slowdowns, delays, and gummed-up airside operation, it was ground crew vehicle operation. For example, operators of aircraft tugs and baggage carts or tractors being unfamiliar with or disregarding airport regulations when driving on the ramp or apron.
Drivers unfamiliar with their vehicles’ operational limits may do things such as speeding or driving outside of the boundaries designating its safe operation. Many ground operation managers have seen too much GSE and other airport equipment damaged from actions like these. Not only is driving outside of the marked roadways or other routes dangerous on airport property, doing so can put GSE at far higher risk of foreign object damage.
The other most commonly-cited issue was the parking of GSE in inappropriate places. Inappropriate parking can interfere with other ground crew operations, leading to delays, loading and unloading problems, maintenance and flight preparation issues, and a lack or shortage of the necessary resources at the stands and gates. It can also be dangerous, resulting in collisions if another operator isn’t expecting to encounter a vehicle parked around a corner where parking is prohibited. Not to mention one may accidentally block the access of emergency vehicles.
Fixing Those Issues
As mentioned, more often than not these problems aren’t the result of the vehicle operators just not caring as they are a lack of training. Obvious as it is, the solution to that is pretty simple: sufficient training.
And the lack of training certainly isn’t just the fault of a supervisor not feeling like training someone. Ground crew work can be among the most stressful, fast-paced, and demanding professions. Faced with this fast pace, some crew supervisors may surmise that if someone can drive a car, they can drive a baggage cart, and if they can drive a baggage cart, they can drive an aircraft pushback. So saving some time without going into tedious specifics may seem reasonable given the number of tasks at hand.
Of course, that’s simply not the case. The GSE vehicles and equipment, even those sharing basically similar operation-design features, are all designed to do very specific things. They have specific attributes and engine sizes and speed capabilities and unique operational behavior based on their function. Not only is driving a traditional car or truck not sufficient to qualify someone to operate GSE, being fully trained up on one piece of GSE doesn’t mean immediate qualification to operate others.
Every member of the ground crew needs to be fully trained and fully educated on the use of every piece of GSE they’re going to be using. And all ground crew should be given comprehensive training on airport safety, the importance of staying within the marked routes, where parking is allowed and not, and anything else that will contribute to a safer and more efficient airside working environment.
The AERO Specialties SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System is designed to mitigate risk factors during aircraft towing by providing operators with a sophisticated linear force monitoring system, reducing the risk of damage to equipment and aircraft. As a part of AERO Specialties’ line of Aviation Safety Equipment, the SiPsHitch™ can prevent costly damage to aircraft, tugs, and other equipment.
About AERO Specialties
Since their founding, AERO Specialties has been committed to providing the highest-quality ground support equipment and everything else a functioning airport needs to run smoothly. As part of their dedication to the best products and the best customer service, AERO Specialties ensures that all of their sales and support staff develop an in-depth, detailed understanding of ground crew operation and equipment. You can depend on them to find a dependable aircraft tug to suit your needs and everything else you’ll require for successful airport operations.
Visit AERO Specialties for the GSE you need at Aerospecialties.com
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